Weighing-machine



No. 6I6,862. Patented Dec. 27. |898. F. H. RICHARDS.

wEmHm MACHINE.

('Applicntion filed Dec. 13, 1897.\

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No. s|6,ss2. Y Patented nec. 27, |898. F. H. RICHARDS.

WEIGHING-MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec. 13, 1897."

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N0. 6|5,862. Patented Dec. 27, |898. F. H. RICHARDS.

WEIGHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec. 13, 1B97.``

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

FRANCIS II. RICHARDS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

wEpleHlNe- MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION :forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,862, datedDecember 27, 1898.

Application led December 13, 1897. Serial No. 661,619. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Beit known that I, FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented certainnevv and useful Improvements inIVeighing-lllachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to Weighing niachines, and especially toautomatic electrically-controlled weighing-scales adapted for Weighingpredetermined quantities of material; and it has for its main object theprovision of an improved scale of this type in which no force will beapplied to a streamcontrolling valve for opening the same While thevalve-closing force is bein g exerted thereon, and vice versa.

My present invention is in the nature of an improvement upon that shownand described in my application, Serial No. 661,411, iiled December 10,1897, in which is embodied a valve operated in the manner above stated;and it is also an improvement upon the invention described in myvapplication, Serial No. 661,528, iiled December 1l, 1897, in Which Ihave shown and claimed a construction embodying anintermittently-rotative valve in which the valve-actuating forces neveroppose one another. In this case also I have retained the genericfeatures of construction illustrated in the drawings of such otherapplications; but the principal feature of this invention asdistinguished from those embodied in said other applications is theemployment of an intermittently-rotative valve and a reciprocatoryvalve-actuator therefor operative for applying to the valveintermittently independent valve actuating forces, one or more of whichmay be a valve-closing force or forces, While another may be avalve-opening force.

In the preferred construction I make use of an intermittenbly-rotativeplug-valve and an oscillatory actuator having alternate Working and idlestrokes, the Working strokes of which will be transmitted to the valvefor exerting thereon successive independent opening,` and closing`forces, While the idle strokes of the actuator will have no effect uponthe valve to change thc position thereof.

As before stated, the machine illustrated heroin is intended to beelectrically controlled, and hence for the purpose of operating thereciprocatory actuating member just referred to I prefer to make use ofan electromagnet or solenoid the armature or core of Which may beconnected directly to such actuator, while the circuit to the solenoidwill be controlled by the Weighing mechanism substantially in the mannerdescribed and illustrated in the applications to which I havehereinbefore referred. This solenoid will usually operate When energizedto impart a Working stroke to the reciprocatory valveactuator, and whendenergized a suitable spring may return the core to its normal positionand impart an idle stroke to said actuator. These working and idlestrokes may be transmitted to the stem of the plug-valve by means of apawl-and-ratchet-Wheel connection operating` in the usual manner.

The circuit-controlling means governed by the Weighing mechanism propershould be operative in such manner as to make and break a circuit to thesolenoid a plurality of times during each cycle of operations of theWeighing-machine, these makes and breaks corresponding to the severalvalve-opening and valve-closing movement-s, the manner in which theseparts are controlled being substantially similar to that described insaid other applications.

As the machine forming' the subject-matter of this invention andillustrated herein is intended particularly as a means for Weighinpredetermined quantities of material in small lots into receptacles orpackages removable from the Weighing-machine and forming` no part of thepermanent mechanism thereof and as in such a machine if no othercircuitcontrolling means were employed than that governed by the beammechanism proper the valve might be opened and material deliveredtherefrom with no package in position to receive the stream flowing,`fromk the supplyspout, I have illustrated herein, as in said othercases, circuit-controlling means governed by the proper placing` of areceptacle or package in position on a suitable scale-pan orpackage-carrier, which circuit-controlling means will maintain an opencircuit to the solenoid at all times except When a can is in place.

In connection with the circuit-controlling means governed by theweighing mechanism proper l employ a slidable poise-weight,which issuitably mounted on the framework and forms part of suchcircuit-controlling means. Normally this poise-weight will be supportedon the framework and will not exert its force on the beam mechanismuntil the poising side of the latter shall have been carried down to apredetermined point by the weight of the partial charge made up in Ithepackage carried on the scale-pan, and this poise-weight may control boththe circuit for energizing the solenoid to shift the valve to its dripposition and that for energizing said solenoid to cut o'lf the new ofmaterial entirely.

ln the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification,Figure lis a side elevation of an automat-ic electrically-controlledweighing-machine constructed in accordance with my present improvementsand illustrates the parts in the positions which they assume when thefull supply flows into the load-receiver at the beginning of the makingup of a new load. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the positions of theparts when the beam begins to descend and the circuit to the solenoid isbroken to permit the idle stroke of the core and of the actuatorcontrolling the valve. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the positions ofthe parts when the beam incollanism descends to a point where thecircuit to the solenoid will be reestablished and the valve shifted tothe drip position shown in Fig. 7. Fig. l is a similar view illustratingthe next idle stroke of the core and the valveaetuator when thelast-mentioned circuit is broken by the continued descent of the beamduring the drip period. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the posit-ionsof the parts when the valve is closed and the stream ent off entirely onthe reenergization of the selen oid due to the making of the circuit onthe shifting of the poise-weight by the weighing mechanism proper. Figs.6, 7, and S are enlarged sectional details illustrating the differentpositions of the valve.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures of thedrawings.

Any suitable framework may be employed for supporting the severaloperative parts of my improved weighing-machine. That illustrated hereinembodies a base or bedplate l, from which rise three standards 2, 2',and 2, the former of which may be connected at their upper ends by amember, (indicated at 3,) which may form therewith a single or unitarycasting on which the solenoid and the valve mechanism may be mounted.

Any usual form of weighing mechanism may be employed; but l prefer tomake use of beam mechanism of the single-beam type, (indicated herein byB,)which beam may be supported in the usual manner by knifeedge pivots,such as 3', on a short post, such as 2', rising from the base l. Nearthe opposite ends thereof this beam may have pivotally supported thereona pair of substantially tlat pans, one of which is indicated by et andwill constitute the weight-pan and the other of which is designated by 5and forms a scale-pan or package-carrier on which the receptacles orpackages into which the material is to be delivered may be supported.These two pans may be guided in their movements and maintained in theirhorizontal positions in any suitable manner, as by means of a pair ofrods or hangers G and t, depending below the beam and working at theirlower ends in suitable openings in bosses 7 and 7', rising from the basel.

The stream controlling means or valve mechanism may be of any suitabletype so long as the essential feature of an intermittently-rotativestream-controller is retained; but I prefer to employ a streamsupplyingpipe or conduit, such as F, the llowof material through which will beregulated by a small rotary plug-valve l, journaled in the usualvalve-body, which may be screwed onto the end of the pipe l), as shownatl". This valve fr may have a transverse opening S-extendingtherethrough and o'l su flicient size to permit the material in the pipeto llow out unimpeded when the valve is wide open.

ln the construction illustrated the valve will accomplish two completeoperations during each single rotation thereof,it moving through threesuccessive stages in substantially equal arcs during each half-rotation,these three stages or steps of movement corresponding, respectively, tothe two movements of the valve for reducing and cutting olf the llow-Stream and the single movement for shifting the valve to its wide-openposition.

The valve-actuating mechanism will, as before stated, embody as itsessential feature a reciprocatory actua-tor, which will preferably be inthe form of an oscillating arm l0, mounted loosely on the stem of thevalve 1*. This arm may also carry at its free end a pawl l2, which willcooperate with a ratchetwheel 13, secured to the valve-stein and havingsix long teeth, corresponding to the six movements of the valve du ringthe two cycles of operation in a single rotation of the ratchetwheel.The arm lO is also pivoted to a connecting-link ll, which may beoperated by any suitable electrically-controlled actuating member-suoli,for example, as the solenoid S, to one end of the core c of which thelink 14C is pivoted.

lVhen the coils of the solenoid are not energized, the core may beexpelled by means of a spring l5, connected to an angle-lever 16, bothcarried en the framework, the long arm of the lever coacting with asuitable stop or pin, such as 17, on the core c, this stop beingpreferably adjustable.

The circuit-controlling means governed by the weighing mechanism is ofnovel construetion and embodies in this case three sets ofcireuit-controllin g members at corresponding breaks in the circuit tothe solenoid. These circuit-controlling members are indicated IOO IIO

herein by 2O 21, 21 2, and 23 24. The first set controls the openingoli' the valve, the second the first closing movement of the Valve tothe drip position, and the third the movement of said valve to'cut ottthe stream completely. The members 2O 21 are controlled solely anddirectly by the beam mechanism proper, which carries a contact-makingarm 143. \Vhen the beam mechanism is counterpoised and is in its normalposition, this arm will close the break at 2O 21, but will open saidbreak when the beam mechanism begins to descend toward the poising-line.The other two breaks are controlled by the contact member 1u, which inthis case is in the form of a sliding bolt 30, mounted for reciprocationin a vertical direction in the bore of a member 31, projecting fromtheupright 2. The poiseweight is insulated from the member 31, asindicated at 32, and it has a stop-flange for limiting the downwardmovement thereof. At the lower end of the bolt 30 there is an anglepiece or arm 33, one member of which forms a stop for limiting theupward movement of the poise-weight, while the other arm has a cam-face33, so shaped as to operate as an actuator for closing the circuitbetween the contacts 21 and 22 at the proper point in the movement ofthe poise-weight. As will be obvious, the upper end of the bolt 30serves in a similar manner to close the break between the contacts23'and 24 when the stream is entirely cut oft by the valve.

The contact-arm 2O is connected by a conductor with the return-conductor41, leading to a source of energy or battery Z), while the contact-arm21 is connected by a con ductor 42 to one terminal of the solenoid S,the other terminal of which is connected in turn, by means of aconductor 44, with the package-controlled contact-making means, whilethe other conductor 45, connected with said package-controlledcontact-maker, connects with the opposite side of the battery b fromthat with which conductor 41 is connected.

Contact 23 is connected directly to the vreturn-conductor 4l, andcontact 24 is con nected, by means of a short conductor 4G, to the wire42. In substantially the same manner contact 22 is connected by aconductor 47 to the return-wire 4l, while contact-arm 21 connects withthe conductor 42.

The package-controlled circuit-closer, by means of which all of thecircuits to the solenoid are maintained open unless there is a can inposition on the package carrier, is designated in a general way by c'.It may be of any suitable construction; but in this case I have shown apair of cooperative contact-arms 4S and 49, the upper one of which hasan upwardly-projecting member or pin 4S', which projects through anopening in the package-carrier 5 and will be pressed down to make thecontact when there is a can in place.

The operation of a machine constructed in accordance with my presentimprovements, as illustrated in the drawings of this application, is asfollows: It being` understood that all of the parts are in position fordelivering the full stream to a can or package p, supported on thepackage-carrier 5, it will be seen that a circuit is closed at thecontacts 2O and 21, which will keep the solenoid energized until thecharge in the can is sufficient to cause the beam to descend, whereuponthe contact-arm 48 will rise from the arm 21 and break the circuit atthat point. On the deenergization of the solenoid the spring 15 willexpel the core c and impartan idle movement to the oscillatoryactuating-arm 10, carrying the pawl 12 back into position to engageanother tooth, as will be clear by referring to Fig. 2. As soon as thebeam mechanism descends far enough the arm 143 in rising will engage theangle-arm 33 on the poise-weight w and raise the latter until thecam-face 33 closes the contact at 21 and 22, thus completing the circuitto the solenoid through conductor 45, contact-arms 49 and 48, conductor44, solenoid S, conductor 42, contact-arms 22 and 21, conductor 47, andreturn-wire 41. On the passage of the current through this circuit thesolenoid will be energized and the Valve will be shifted from theposition shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 6 to that illustrated in Figs. 3 and7, whereupon the stream will be reduced to a drip, and the remainder ofthe charge will be supplied in the usual manner by the drip material. Asthe beam continues to descend the arm 143 will also continue to raisethe poise-weight, the force of which will of course be exerted on thebeam mechanism in opposition to the weight of the charge and itsreceiver. At the proper point in the operation of the poise-weight thecam-face 33 will release the contact 22 and break the contact at 21 and22, whereupon the core and the actuator will be returned to the positionshown in Fig. 4. When the beam mechanism reaches the limit of itsdownward movement, the upper end of the poise-weight will raise thecontact-arm 24 and make the circuit at 23 24, the course of this circuitbeing through conductor 45, contact-arms 49 48, conductor 44, solenoidS, conductor 42, conductor 46, contact-arms 24 and 23, andreturn-conductor-4l back to the battery. On the making of this circuitthe valve will be shifted tc the position shown in Fig. 8 to cut o thesupply. This circuit will be broken when the filled can is removed fromthe package-carrier, and contact will also be broken at 48 and 40. Thebeam mechanism will return at once to its normal counterpoised position,break the contact at 23 24, leave the poise-weight suspended on theframework, and make contact again at 2O 21; but the circuit to thesolenoid will be broken until an empty can is placed inposition,whereupon the current will flow through conductor 45,contact-arms 49 and 43, conductor 44, solenoid S, conductor 42,contact-arms 21 and 20, and return-con- ICO IIO

ductors l0 and Il back to the battery, energizing the solenoid andoperating the actuator to reopen the valve and restore the parts totheir normal positions for a new cycle of operations.

IIaving described my invention, I claiml. In a wei ghin g-machine, thecombination, with stream-supplying means and with a stream-controllingvalve intermittently operative in the same direction; of anelectricallyoperated reeiprocatory valve-actuator having alternateworking and idle strokes, said actuator being adapted on successiveworking strokes to impart to said valve independent valve-actuatingmovements; an electric circuit; and electrie-eircuit-controlling means.

2. In a weighingmachine, the combination, with stream-supplying meansand with an intermittently rotative stream controlling valve, of avalve-actuating solenoid; a pawland-ratchet-wheel connection between thevalve and the core of the solenoid, for applying to said valvesuccessive and independent valve-actuating forces; an electric circuitincluding said solenoid; and electrical circuitcontrolling means.

3. In a weighing-machine, the combination, with stream-supplying meansand with an intermittently rotative stream controlling valve, of aneleetrically-operated reciprocatory valve-actuator operative forapplying to said valve successive and independent valveactuating forces;weighing mechanism; and circuit-controlling means governed by theweighing mechanism and operative for making and breaking the circuit tothe solenoid a plurality of times at successive points in the movementof the weighing mechanism.

I. In a weighing-machine, the combination, with stream-supplying meansand with an intermittently rotative stream controlling valve, of anelectrically-operated reciprocatory valve-actuator operative forapplying to said valve successive and independent valveactuating forces;weighing mechanism embodyingapackage-carrier; an electric circuitcontrolling the operation of the valve-actuator; and apair ofcircuit-controllers governed, respectively, by the weighing mechanismproper and bythe placing of a package in position on thepackage-carrier.

5. In a weighing-machine, the combination, with stream-supplying meansand with a streamcontrolling valve, of framework; weighing mechanism; aslidable poise-weight on the framework; an electric circuit controllingthe operation of a movable part of the weighing-machine; and anelectrical circuitcontroller governed by the poise-weight.

t. In a weighing-machine, the combination, with stream -supplying meansand with a stream controlling valve, of framework; weighing mechanism; aslidable poise-weight on the framework; an electric circuit controllingthe operation of a movable part of the weighing-machine; and a pluralityof electrical circuit-controllers operative successively by thepoise-weight.

7. In a weighing-machine, the combination, with stream-supplying meansand with a stream controlling valve, of framework; weighing mechanism; aslidable poise-weight on the framework and normally ont of operativerelation with the weighing mechanism and in position to be enga-ged bythe latter at a determined point in the movement thereof; an electriccircuit controlling the operation of a movable part of theweighing-machine; and an electrical circuit-controller governed by thepoise-weight.

S. In a weighing-machine, the combination, with stream-supplying meansand with a streamcontrolling valve, of framework; weighing mechanism; aslidable poise-weight on the framework; an electric circuit controllingthe operation of a movable part of the weighing-machine; and a pluralityof electrical circuit-controllers operative succes-- sively by theweighing mechanism proper and the poise-weight.

9. In a weighing-machine, the combination, with stream-supplying meansand with a stream-controlling valve, of framework; weighing mechanism; avertically-reciprocatory poise-weight on the framework; an electriccircuit controlling the operation of a movable part of theweighing-machine; and a pair of electrical circuit-controllers governedby the poise-weight and adjacent to the opposite ends thereof.

l0. In a weighing-machine, the combination, with stream-supplying meansand with a stream-controlling valve, of a valve-actuat ing solenoid; anelectric circuit inclu ding said solenoid; framework; weighingmechanism; a slidable poise-weight on the framework; and a pair ofelectrical circuit-controllers in said circuit andgoverned,respeetively, by the weighing mechanism and the poise-weight.

ll. In a weighing-machine, the combination, with stream-supplying meansand with an intermittently-rotative stream-controlling valve, of avalve-actuating solenoid controlling the opening and the closingmovements of said valve; an electric circuit including said solenoid;framework; weighing mechanism embodying a package-carrier; a slidablepoise-weight on the framework; and a plurality of electricalcircuit-controllers in said circuit and governed, respectively, by theweighing mechanism proper, the poiseweight, and the placing of a packagein position on the package-carrier.

FRANCIS II. RICHARDS.

`Witnesses:

F. N. CHASE, JOHN O. SErFERT.

